Scoping out proper scope

[Brad]

Scope

Hello all. I do all of my boating around the inside passage of Vancover Island. Most of the bottom is good holding mud. Couple of the places are sand that I anchor. There are a lot of boats around the marine parks and popular anchorages. I will be fighting to get out 3 to 1 in 30 feet of water. I let out lots 6 or 7 to one then bring it back in to 3 to one. I never drag , I will let bit more out if the wind picks up , or I drop down a 10lbs ball. I have a Cat 30 , use 30 feet chain and a Bruce knock off. Hey if I ever do get the space I let out 7 to one ...... but that is not very common. We do stern tie about 30% of the time as well.

 

[Charlie Crews]

Raft Up

The best method I have found is to find the boat best anchored and raft up with them.No mess, no fouled anchors and an easy excape when it is time to leave.

 

[Dale Young]

Easy way to measure line .

Measure your arm span (most are @ 5ft from wrist to wrist). Then count how many times you pay out. No need for marks on rode or anything else.

 

[Peter Brennan]

Warn 'em off!

We seldom anchor in more than twenty feet but we also have 8 to 10 foot tides. That matters. You can have ample scope at low tide and be up and down at high tide. Our primary is a 35 lb Delta on 150 ft of chain and 250 of rope. Essentially, we anchor 5:1 on all chain but can let out lots more if needed. As fior technique, we bring the boat into the wind and to a dead stop, let the anchor fall and then back down slowly as we pay out chain. Otherwise it will all pile up on top of the anchor. Being a sailboat means backing down in an arc, not a straight line. Once the desired amount of rode is out, we back down sharply to set the anchor. Anchorages are crowded so 7:1 let alone 10:1, is not often practicable. We will also use a riding sail if it looks windy, not always appreciated by those who sail wildly at anchor and into us. Once anchored, we cover ourselves by flying the signal QT: "You should not anchor. You are going to foul my anchor." Everyone knows the signal codes, no? They can save you from liability.By the way, on oath, who here has never ever dragged?

 

[Tim Schaaf]

How to back up in a STRAIGHT line!

It IS posssible to back down in a straight line, even though you have prop walk. At the sailing school where I used to work, we would teach people NOT to point the bow directly into the wind, but a bit to the same side that the stern would kick to in reverse. As you bring the boat to a stop using reverse, the trick is to do so slowly enough that the wind is still working to keep the bow pointed in the same direction. If you apply to much reverse, you will bring the bow through the wind. Too little, and the bow will fall off. When the boat is stopped, increase reverse thrust by the amount necessary to keep the bow from coming through the wind. Pretty soon, the rudder will have a good enough bite to keep on course and point the bow right into the wind. The trick is to balance the reverse with the pressure the wind is exerting on the side of the bow. Every boat is a bit different, but this is very easy to learn with a little practise. It is helpful in a crowded anchorage, and VERY helpful when backing into a crowded quay to Med-moor.

 

[SailboatOwners.com]

Final results

Final results for the Quick Quiz ending 6/17/2001:How much scope do you typically use at anchor?45% 6:1 or more30% 5:117% 4:108% 3:1 or less

 

[VALDO]

by the book....

4:1 for lunch/siesta; 7:1 overnight; 10:1 overnight, if no watch.better safe than sorry.exceptions are if you're in protected cove with no chance of wind/current, etc.

 

[Tom]

3:1 for lunch hook and protected overnight.

4:1 or 5:1 if unprotected or going to get a little nasty out. I've often used a sentinel (18lb weight slid down rode to keep angle of anchor pull more horizontal with sea bottom)If the winds start a howling and/or its getting rough I'll just let out a little more rode to 6:1 or 7:1....I've never had to go anymore than that ever..... I've never dragged on MY anchor once set (knock on wood). (Though I have been out in very strong winds that had my rode straight out like a metal bar, so much so that the sentinel didn't even put a 'dip' in the anchor rodeUsed this system on my old boat (8500lb 27' sloop) with 10' chain and a CQR knockoff. And am using it on my present boat (14,500lb 36' sloop) using 20' chain and 44lb SPADE anchor.